Pull Port Dalhousie

The Pull

'The Pull' is a sculpture located in Port Dalhousie, paying homage to the towhorses that played a crucial role in the history of the Welland Canals. Sculpted by Veronica and Edwin Dam de Nogales from Barcelona, Spain, and Floyd Elzinga from Beamsville, Ontario, this artwork combines bronze and weathering steel. The sculpture, completed in 2022, stands as a tribute to towhorses and their significant role in the history of the Welland Canals. During the construction of the canals, both human and animal workers suffered injuries and casualties.

Historical significance

The sailing ships of the early canal era were pulled through the channel with their sails furled. In 1842, there were 150 teams of horses stabled at the west end of Lakeside Park, near the entrance to the canal. Teams of horses, mules, or oxen – driven by a towboy – would move along a towpath that ran beside the canal all along its length. Teams were exchanged at locations along the route.

The canal passage between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario was a grueling experience for both humans and equine. The towpaths and canal banks were often covered in sticky mud, creating a treacherous and exhausting environment. The use of towhorses waned as sailing ships were replaced by steam and later diesel ships capable of transiting the canal under their own power.

Symbolism and design

‘The Pull’ captures a towhorse in mid-stride, its harness fastened, and its head leaning forward. According to the artists, “‘The Pull,’ is both commemorative and contemporary at once. It has one foot in the past, and one in the future. Attaching the shafts to the earth symbolizes the pulling forth of history, of toil, of chosen direction and intent, and a heaving forward of memory into the present.”

Commission and support

Commissioned by the Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines and the Port Dalhousie Beautification and Works Committee, with support from the Harbour Club, Niagara Community Foundation, private donors, and volunteers.

About the artists

Floyd Elzinga

Floyd Elzinga spent his childhood on a farm and discovered his passion for art at a young age when he traded drawings of elephants for lunch snacks. He pursued his love for art and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Throughout his career, Floyd has created unique pieces such as “Plowing” the floor of the Public Art Gallery in Grimsby, fields of metal flowers, and oversized pinecone installations scattered around the world.

Presently, he is focused on creating sculptures that highlight the beauty of rotten stumps, broken branches, and windswept trees using steel as his material of choice. With over 30 years of experience working with steel, Floyd is adept at utilizing its natural colors and the way light interacts with its surface to create pieces with intricate textures and depth, akin to a painter's use of a paintbrush. His artwork can be found at various locations, including the Queenston-Lewiston International Border Crossing and the 13th Street Art Gallery in St Catharines.

Floyd lives and works in Beamsville, Ontario.

Veronica and Edwin Dam de Nogales

Veronica de Nogales Leprevost and Edwin Timothy Dam, known collectively as Dam de Nogales, are accomplished sculptors who have left an indelible mark on the art world.

Throughout their career, Dam de Nogales has created a diverse range of sculptures, from monumental outdoor installations to intricate installations that incorporate lighting and technology. Their works often reflect their profound curiosity about nature and their dedication to engaging viewers in meaningful dialogue. Some notable sculptures include “Words Towards Poesia” in Massachusetts, and “Meditations over a Chair” and “The Wandering Brute” in Missouri, as well as the “Al Purdy -Voice of the Land” monument in Queen’s Park, Toronto.

Their dedication to art, along with their ability to merge traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, has resulted in over 50 sculptures that are now woven into the social fabric of communities worldwide. Their commitment to addressing important global issues, such as climate change and wildlife trafficking, through their art showcases their desire to make a positive impact on society.

Today, Dam de Nogales continues to create thought-provoking and visually stunning sculptures, leaving an enduring legacy in the world of public art and sculpture. Their works serve as a testament to their passion, creativity, and dedication to creating spaces of dialogue for people of all ages.

Sources cited

Roberta M. Styran and Robert R. Taylor. This Great National Object: Building the Nineteenth-Century Welland Canals. 2012.
Barlow Cumberland. A Century of Sail and Steam on the Niagara River. 1913.